August Postcard

Ih this 14 min. podcast I cover the issues of longevity – why is it that Spanish people have the longest life expectancy in the EU – and affordability – is Spain still one of the cheapest European countries in which to live? I also explore why Spaniards eat dinner so late in the evening and I take a brief look at the property market to see who is buying and what is happening to prices.

I talk about some of the habits and eccentricities I've encountered after living in Spain for almost 20 years - some are amusing, others you need to know if you want to live happily here!

Another podcast about the history and legends surrounding the area in which I live – the Girona valley and the Vall de Laguart in the Costa Blanca North. In this podcast I’m relating the history and legends of the Cavell Verd or Green Horse, the mountain range on the left-hand side of the Vall de Laguart.

In a recent episode I talked about the history of Fontilles, originally a leper colony as it was called at the time but now a hospital for the elderly and a worldwide centre of excellence in the treatment of leprosy. A very talented lady called Julie who lives in my village of Orba has written a beautiful poem which, even if you have never visited Fontilles, will paint a wonderful picture of the place. Listen to the original podcast about the setting up and history of Fontilles at https://player.captivate.fm/episode/79054b90-5925-4f22-815b-dfa1194570d7/

An interesting podcast about the Cueva de las Calavaras - the Cave of Skulls - in Benidoleig. Fact or fiction - the skulls of 12 medieval Muslim agricultural workers discovered in 1768, the legend of a Moorish king with his 150 concubines, together with hidden treasure, or evidence of use by cavemen in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods? of SkullsYou can listen also listen to all the Postcard from Spain podcasts on Spotify – search for ‘Postcard from Spain Vernon Pearce’

The story of the mountain that swallowed water - a failed reservoir project from the first half of the 20th century.You can listen also listen to all the Postcard from Spain podcasts on Spotify – search for ‘Postcard from Spain Vernon Pearce’

The fascinating history of the Fontilles leprosy colony, established in the Vall de Laguar in Alicante province in 1909, from a place of refuge for sufferers shunned by society in the early 1900s to what is now a world-renowned centre of research for the treatment of this disease.You can listen also listen to all the Postcard from Spain podcasts on Spotify – search for ‘Postcard from Spain Vernon Pearce’

A fascinating story which describes how thousands of citizens of the Valencia region in Spain emigrated in the early part of the 20th century to North America to find work, following the failure of the local grape harvest. The podcast includes an interview with Teresa Morell, author of the book "Valencians to New York"'.You can listen online to the original Valley FM radio programme, complete with music at https://on.soundcloud.com/BOuIJ1mBIP88RqK3lwYou can listen also listen to all the Postcard from Spain podcasts on Spotify – search for ‘Postcard from Spain Vernon Pearce’

In my September podcast you can discover the origins of tapas, hear the latest unemployment, population and inflation figures, news of recent earthquakes near Granada and the amusing story of 'painted pigeons'!You can listen also listen to all the Postcard from Spain podcasts on Spotify – search for ‘Postcard from Spain Vernon Pearce’

This month's podcast includes a short and amusing item about confusing words in Spanish, a couple of current news items about how Spain goes on holiday in August, a short, thought-provoking poem about the attitude to Spanish culture from an immigrant's point of view and some important information for American citizens moving to Spain on the difficulty of obtaining a Spanish driving licence.You can listen to recent episodes of the full Postcard from Spain radio programme, including Spanish music, at https://soundcloud.com/vernon-92422639/sets/postcard-from-spain